Tag: winter driving tips

Tires and brakes are the most important and literally the most neglected component of any automobile.

Why this two most vital components are the most neglected on the majority of the cars around us?

Tires and brakes get the least amount of respect despite they are the most important, the most used and abused components on any car. Tires are all black and round and they all look the same. Sorry nothing could be further from the truth.

Tire carcass the structure the material consisting the way it is woven and the belt and materials chosen with the secret recipe of the compound makes it some really complicated piece of engineering.

BMW i8 with Winter Tire on

Look no further than F1 or Le Mans or pretty much any high end motorsport where tire choice will determine of the outcome of any race. Furthermore without perfectly performing brakes the whole effort is wasted by the entire team.

Braking control and vehicle performance relies on proper traction. Your tires are your only contact between your car and the road so tire choice is the out most importance.

Tire choice should be not decided by on price only it should be guided by a knowledgeable technician an expert in the field wit decades of experience to guide you thru a very important decision with choices based on know how rather than price and or appearance or perhaps by brand recognition only.

Probably you realized too, winter is just around the corner. The temperature drops and we might get some snow at anytime. This time of the year driving on bald tires has it’s consequences, in most cases sudden, expensive or tragic at worst.

Bald or slick tires belong on a race track only, please keep in mind race tires are compound specific to maximize traction at all times, which brings us to the point as the current weather in November quite unpredictable we need to optimize traction by installing winter tires.

Winter tires as said above are specific compound to stay soft and pliable in cold temperatures. The benchmark is 7 Celsius, at 7 Celsius summer or three season tires will turn into hard rubber like a hockey puck.

Literally any modern winter tire is superior to any 3 season tire commonly called “all season” tires in the late fall and in the winter season. To optimize tire wear and traction, tire pressures should be checked at least once a month and alignment should be checked at least once a year.

Hydroplaning decrease. Winter tires’ tread pattern has a high drainage level in order to prevent hydroplaning. Continue reading….

Winter tires are designed to perform better in a wide range of wintry conditions such as wet roads, snow and ice. They also improve your vehicle’s grip and performance in these conditions and they shorten your braking distances for better safety. Continue reading…

When you buy your car, should you buy all wheel drive, or two wheel drive could suffice?

This question comes especially important when we get some snow on the ground and people think because they bought a fancy high tech all wheel drive car or SUV all they need is the magic of all wheel drive to take them to their destination safely.

Sorry folks that’s not it, tires in particularly proper winter tires are the secret to a safe secure winter or foul weather driving . You can have the best all wheel drive system if your tires are not up to par with the winter weather.

One more thing; Please note, your brakes are getting to be destroyed if your tires are not capable of handling of the white stuff.

Your four wheel drive system uses the brakes to control wheel spin and slipping sliding, 2 ton moving mass which if the tires are lacking of proper traction will render them overwhelmed by the electronics trying to do their job properly and efficiently.

My advice is, as you buy proper foot ware you should do the same for your high tech automobile.

Winter might be taking a nap, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to come. It’s coming whether we like it or not! Winter is the toughest season you and your car can face. We can prepare your vehicle for the ice, snow and freezing temperatures.

Winter Tires

All four wheels need them regardless of whether it’s a front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel, or four-wheel-drive. All-season tires are not winter tires. Winter tires reduce the number of collisions by almost 20 per cent. Enough said.

Winter or summer, your car tires are the only point of contact that your vehicle has with the road, they need to be in good condition at all times to ensure your safety. Inspect your tires regularly for wear and any damage to avoid any sudden problems. Check your tire pressure monthly and before every long trip.

Driving with incorrect tire pressure can affect your car’s handling and braking, particularly in wet conditions, and can seriously compromise your safety. Driving on severely under inflated tires can cause heat build up and eventually a premature tire failure. Read more about winter tires…

Brake

You car brake system should be in top working condition at all times. Have your brakes checked by a professional regularly? Your and others life depend on it. At winter time is more important than ever, in the case of slippery conditions like icy snow covered roads, the effectiveness of your traction control and ABS system depends on the quality of your braking system. Have it inspected and tested by a professional for ultimate safety in any weather and or road conditions. Bring your car in for ABS and brake system service.

Battery Test

If your car is five years old or older have your battery tested for strength and performance to prevent possible no start condition in foul weather. It might not necessarily need a new battery, but having it tested can save a lot of headache. To prevent breakdown and keep you on the road safely, we use Midtronincs GR8-1200 Electrical System Tester – Analyzer to check, test your battery and your automobile electrical system. Read more about battery testing…

Fluids

While the use of long-life engine coolant has increased, it still should be checked for strength and condition every fall.

Washer fluid level is an easy check and a spare bottle should be in your trunk all year long and especially in the winter.

The engine oil in your car has to go thru temperature extremes. Therefore it’s very important to have your engines lifeline the engine oil up to the highest possible standards, by performing your oil service on time, especially on today’s modern high tech engines, during winter operation thanks to fuel contamination from cold starts and water contamination from condensation. If you getting close to oil change, start off the season right with a fresh oil and filter change. While we perform your oil change we also check your brakes, tires and most fluid levels for your added safety.

Windshield wipers consumable items. Doesn’t matter what brand name they are, they due for replacement at around 18 months of use or sooner. Most wiper blades can freeze, even dedicated winter wiper blades can get stuck to the windshield in extreme conditions.

When we inspect your car’s wiper blade, we lubricate the hinges to prevent water and ice formation at the base.

Locks & Doors

Before the Canadian deep freeze hits, we lubricate door locks, latches, and hinges and treat the door and window seals. We use silicone lubricating compound (Made in Germany). By spraying the door and window weather seals, they will be less likely to freeze you out on a cold winter morning.

Floor Mats

Never stack floor mats on top of one another or use a mat that’s too thick. The risk of jamming your accelerator pedal to the floor is real and the results can be catastrophic. Winter floor mats are great for reducing salt stains on the carpeting.

You should remove mats from time to time throughout the winter to dry them out indoors. Moisture on floor mats is the cause of hard frost appearing on the inside of windshields and door glasses.

Full Tank of Gas

Drive with full tank of gas at winter is a good idea. Never know when you stuck in the snow, so you can keep your car and yourself warm if you have enough gas in your gas tank.

Some people put something heavy, like a 50 kg concrete block in their car’s trunk to get better traction, but if you get in a collision, consider the damage a 50 kg piece of concrete will do. The best weight to carry to improve traction is fuel in the gas tank. This brings the mass lower to the ground for improved stability and reduces the effect of winter water contamination in the tank.

But if you still want to put something heavy in your car trunk put there a bag of Kitty litter? Yes, kitty litter!

It can help provide better traction for rear wheel drive vehicles, because of the weight, and if you get stuck in the snow a little bit of kitty litter sprinkled under the tires can help you get traction and out of the snow.